
Jonathan Bailey by Armani beauty.
The Venice Film Festival has barely opened its doors and Armani already has half the Lido looking incredibly well dressed. Returning for its ninth consecutive year as the Official Beauty Sponsor, the Italian powerhouse kicked off the 83rd edition of the festival by proving that true cinematic glamour requires no filter – just a perfectly executed swipe of luminous silk.
For opening night, the house brought together its usual mix of Hollywood royalty, fashion favourites and very good tailoring, with Jonathan Bailey and George Clooney providing perhaps the most fitting double act of the evening. Bailey, Giorgio Armani’s Global Fragrance Ambassador, arrived in a Giorgio Armani tuxedo, while Clooney chose the same house for one of the festival’s biggest moments: receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Nicholas Galitzine and J Balvin by Armani beauty.

Vittoria Ceretti and Kendall Jenner by Armani beauty.
Clooney’s award was presented during the opening ceremony ahead of the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’, the festival’s opening film. Presented by Laura Dern, the honour recognises Clooney’s career as an actor, director and producer – although he remained characteristically unfussed by the milestone. “I’ve had so many extraordinary moments in Venice. This festival is without question my favourite and to be given the Golden Lion is a tremendous honour,” he said. “It also probably means I’m old, but I’ll take it.”
And Venice clearly had no intention of keeping things understated. Bailey joined Nicholas Galitzine, Kendall Jenner, Vittoria Ceretti, Carlos Sainz Jr., J Balvin, Madisin Rian and more in Armani looks, turning the opening ceremony into something of an unofficial showcase for the Italian house.
Bailey has another starring role in Venice beyond the red carpet. As the face of Giorgio Armani’s new ‘I WILL‘ fragrance, he will attend a private screening of the campaign film on September 5 at the Armani Cinema Club, with the film directed by Academy Award nominee Todd Field. “It’s the very nature of a shared experience, bringing people together,” he says about cinema. “Great storytelling allows us to see the world through someone else’s eyes.”
The Armani Cinema Club also makes a return at the Venice Venice Hotel from September 2 to 6. Armani beauty will also once again present its Audience Award for the best film in the Venice Spotlight section, with the winner decided by festival-goers and announced at the closing ceremony on September 12.

Carlos Sainz Jr. and Madisin Rian by Armani beauty.
Venice is a film festival, absolutely, but it is also an exceptionally glamorous group project. With tuxedos, gowns and enough silk to illuminate the lagoon, the Lido’s first night proved that the season’s most compelling supporting character may just be a very well-executed beauty look.
photography. courtesy of Dennis Leupold and Paige Powell for Armani beauty
words. Gennaro Costanzo






































































































































































































































































































